For all learners to be empowered to make the best choice for their postsecondary paths, educators should support learners’ discovery of their interests, strengths, and values while bolstering postsecondary and career navigation alongside career-connected experiences.
In listening sessions across the country, Commissioners heard that learners “cannot be what they cannot see” and this observation ultimately speaks to the impact of early exposure to a variety of career fields that learners may not otherwise know exist. In many cases, delayed or inconsistent career awareness means learners miss early opportunities to align coursework and experiences with their evolving interests, strengths, and values.
high school student in Texas
“When I was in middle school, I always wished that I could go off and see what it was like for other people doing these different careers ... I think something that would be really beneficial for the younger kids is definitely letting them shadow instead of just bringing somebody in to talk about their lives, letting them see what it’s like, go more hands on.”
college administrator in Indiana
“So, for face value, the program was a smashing success. But then when you dug down into the equity numbers and where the students were sourced from…we didn’t think of it with a lens for community college students, so the internship experiences were full-time, 8-10 weeks over the summer. Most of our students are full-time employees somewhere else … It’s just a barrier for our community college students to have to take off and work full-time.”
Related recommendation:
Expand and Integrate Earn and Learn Experienceshigh school student in Indiana
“I feel like a lot of the work-based learning does help with the soft skills like communication and problem solving…especially having to deal with external forces and other people who aren’t really actually with the school, it’s like you’re actually dealing with strangers, you’re really getting a bit of a real experience.”
Related recommendation:
Align Career-Connected Experiences with Education and Workforce StandardsOne of the best ways to learn about various career options is through hands-on experiences that are supported by advisers and mentors, which should be offered before high school graduation, during college, through service, and over the course of careers.
Career-connected education experiences will look different depending on the learners’ grade level, program of study, and career interests. Some learners may pursue career and technical education (CTE) pathways, organized into 14 career clusters. High-quality earn and learn opportunities provide paid, on-the-job training alongside mentorship and related instruction, which may include youth and registered apprenticeships, internships, and service year programs.
Historically, high school education has been arbitrarily separated into either college preparation or vocational training. However, today, accelerating pathways to college and career for all learners can include CTE, earning an industry-valued credential, connecting to apprenticeship pathways, and earning college credit through dual enrollment.
The Commission heard from employers that they would like to see career-related content and skills taught in schools and heard from teachers and administrators that they do not have expertise across a wide swath of professions. Employers should partner with educators to align career-connected educational experiences with current industry standards, especially for high-need occupations.
employer in Texas
“My hit rate of recruitment, [85-90% from internships,] is so much better than just showing up at a career fair … I’m making a business decision to spend a chunk of my budget and I’m not getting immediate return, but the long-term play for us is really positive because these folks are ready to go when they come out [of the internship].”
Related recommendation:
Expand and Integrate Earn and Learn Experienceshigh school student in Indiana
“[At] our school, we actually have a program called work-based learning. It allows the students to go to school for three or four periods and then we get to leave the other half a day and we go to work ... For me, I want to be an elementary teacher. We actually have a preschool in our building, so that’s what I do. I did that so I could see if that’s actually something I want to do after high school.”
High school student in Texas
“I think it’s important to help younger ones especially find passion, mentorship. I feel like that’s what a lot of people lack because most parents, especially in our community, don’t have that experience of going to college, of having a professional career.”
Related recommendation:
Embed Mentoring Throughout High School, College, and Career350
higher education institutions have integrated registered apprenticeships into a degree program
9 of 10
most common registered apprenticeship occupations paid above median wages for all workers in 2023
Related Promising Practices
Alabama Student Nurse Apprenticeships
Nurse Apprenticeships help alleviate the nursing shortage with paid clinical hours and partnerships between employers and colleges and universities.
- AL
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Academies of Shakopee High School in Minnesota
Academies of Shakopee High School in Minnesota is a program where students explore subjects they’re passionate about in small learning communities.
- MN
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Empire State Service Corps
Empire State Service Corps provides New Yorkers with meaningful, paid work that builds lifelong skills and creates lasting impacts in their community.
- NY
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New Hanover Healthcare Career Partnership in North Carolina
New Hanover Healthcare Career Partnership is a collaborative effort to address healthcare workforce recruitment, training, and retention.
- NC
- Break Down Silos
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- Philanthropists
Learners participating in career-connected learning may be in high school looking to take the next step in their postsecondary journey soon or they may already be on that journey while enrolled in college, serving in the military or a service year program, or be employed. Depending on their industry of interest, learners may choose a variety of pathways to pursue following a career-connected learning experience.
Many apprentices, interns, and service program alumni will be ready to join the workforce and may be hoping to secure full-time employment at the site of their career-connected learning experience. In some industries, it may be necessary to earn a professional certificate, license, or other industry-valued credential. This can be secured through a short-term education or workforce development program or by enrolling in a two-year or four-year higher education institution to earn an associate or bachelor’s degree.
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